Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

Prayāga-māhātmya and Ṛṇa-pramocana-tīrtha — Māgha-snāna, Austerities, and Release from Debts

Devanagari script

यः स्वदेहं विकर्तेद् वा शकुनिभ्यः प्रयच्छति / विहगैरुपभुक्तस्य शृणु तस्यापि यत्फलम्

Transliteration

yaḥ svadehaṃ vikarted vā śakunibhyaḥ prayacchati / vihagairupabhuktasya śṛṇu tasyāpi yatphalam

Translation

若有人割舍自身之躯而施与群鸟——且听：即便其肉已为有翼之众所食，仍有功德之果随之而至。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: he who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-deham: his own body
• sva-deham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘own’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vi-kartet: would cut/mutilate
• vi-kartet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√kṛt (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/alternative particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• śakunibhyaḥ: to the birds
• śakunibhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakuni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prayacchati: gives/offer
• prayacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√yam (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vihagaiḥ: by birds
• vihagaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• upabhuktasya: of what has been eaten
• upabhuktasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa√bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Past Passive Participle (क्त/कृत), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine/Neuter agreement by context; ‘of (one) that has been eaten/enjoyed’

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tasya: of that (person/act)
• tasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’)

• yat-phalam: what result
• yat-phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सम्बन्ध: ‘which-result’), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Narrator-teacher voice within a dharma discourse (Kurma Purana didactic narrator, traditionally mediated by Sūta/Śaunaka setting)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Śakuni (birds)
• Vihaga (winged creatures)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: it treats the body as an offerable, impermanent instrument, implying the enduring self is distinct from bodily form—an outlook consistent with the Purana’s broader liberation-oriented dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this line; it supports Yoga indirectly by emphasizing vairāgya (detachment) and dharmic intention, which the Kurma Purana treats as prerequisites for higher discipline such as Pāśupata-oriented devotion and contemplation.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

This verse is ethical rather than sectarian; in the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such dharma-based teachings function as a shared foundation for both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths leading toward the same supreme reality.